Several members of the Southland Conference will play an abbreviated fall football schedule of nonleague games, with SLC competition slated for the spring. The SWAC, the other FCS-level conference with Houston-area teams, opted to play only in the spring. The SWAC’s six-game 2021 conference spring schedule runs from Feb. 27 to April 17, with each school having the option of playing one nonconference game.
Here are five things to watch when SWAC and Southland teams start/resume their respective seasons:
Year 2 for TSU’s McKinney
Expect a big jump in offensive production at Texas Southern under the direction of second-year Tigers coach Clarence McKinney, who previously served as running backs coach at Houston, Texas A&M and Arizona, where he was also associate head coach.
“What we’ve found everywhere we’ve been in this scheme, from the University of Houston with Case Keenum to Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, when you get a chance to go through one year within the offense, the second year looks a lot better than the first year,” said McKinney, whose Tigers went 0-11 in his 2019 debut season. “I’ve been around some good ones.”
The one-time offensive coordinator at Texas A&M knows that unit starts with the quarterback. Devin Williams started four games last season for the Tigers. Alcorn State graduate transfer Thaddeus Peyton is in the mix. Whoever gets the assignment will have a gem of a receiver in Donnie Corley, the Tigers’ most-ready NFL player. A year ago en route to being SWAC Newcomer of the Year, Corley caught 72 passes for 1,039 yards over 10 games. As a freshman at Michigan State in 2016, he had 33 receptions. Other competent receivers are Thurman Morbley, Tariq Buchanan and Ke’Lenn Davis. Running back is a deep position with Dominic Franklin, Jacorey Howard and LaDarius Owens competing.
Getting defensive at PV
Prairie View A&M, which had the SWAC’s top offense in 2019, should again be consistent in moving the ball. But it’s the defensive unit that has coach Eric Dooley enthused. A number of highly touted newcomers have been brought in to mesh with preseason All-SWAC returnees Jason Dumas on the line, Tre’Shaud Smith and Storey Jackson at linebacker, and Jaylen Harris, Drake Cheatum and Reggie Stubblefield in the secondary.
At the forefront of the defensive transfers is former Tyler Junior College lineman Kevin Victorian, who can play any spot on the line. End Shelvin Hudson won an NJCAA national championship last year at Mississippi Gulf Coast. Lineman Troy James appeared in five games for Oklahoma in 2019. Tackle Dante Carter started as a freshman at Southeastern Louisiana two seasons ago.
“Those guys are coming in with experience, and they’re all on the defensive side of the ball, and that’s why I’m so excited,” Dooley said.
Two impressive freshmen whom Dooley signed are linebackers Jessie Evans (C.E. King) and Jordan Williams. Joining the staff this season as associate head coach and defensive ends coach is Vantz Singletary, nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.
DL a Sam Houston strength
Sam Houston State coach K.C. Keeler agreed with the Southland Conference’s decision to push league play to the spring. The Bearkats are not playing any football games in the fall. When the Bearkats return to the field, Keeler will welcome a large senior class that is used to winning.
In each of the past 10 seasons, Sam Houston has compiled a winning record, the longest stretch in program history, and has positioned itself as an elite FCS program. The Bearkats have played in five Final Fours over the past 10 years.
Before last season, the Bearkats were more noted for their explosive offenses under Keeler. But the defense, most notably the line, also had a positive impact on the 7-5 team in 2019. Last year’s defense was the FCS leader in rushing defense (69.9 yards per game), tackles for loss (10.9 per game) and third-down conversion percentage (34.0 percent).
Sam Houston returns three defensive linemen who are preseason All-SLC selections in reigning SLC Newcomer of the Year Trace Mascorro, Jevon Leon (Hastings) and Joseph Wallace, all of whom were first-year Bearkats in 2019.
SFA’s versatile Gipson
Stephen F. Austin has a nonconference game scheduled at SMU on Sept. 26. That will be a good test for the Lumberjacks as well as an opportunity to showcase the versatility of Xavier Gipson, who has earned All-Southland Conference preseason recognition in three categories: wide receiver, all-purpose and kick returner.
If SFA coach Colby Carthel can continue to recruit players the caliber of Gipson, the Lumberjacks’ turnaround could come shortly.
Gipson proved the gem of Carthel’s first recruiting class. In each of the past two years, SFA’s recruiting has received top-five recognition among FCS programs. As a freshman in 2019, Gipson compiled team highs in receiving yardage (934), catches (52) and receiving touchdowns (seven) for the 3-9 Lumberjacks. Primarily a cornerback at Dallas Wilson, he also excelled in special teams in his first year at SFA, ranking fourth in the Southland in kickoff return yardage (356) and kickoff return average (20.9).
Lamar counting on Morgan
Not playing a fall schedule should give new Lamar coach Blane Morgan more time to get up to speed. When COVID-19 led to a shutdown in March, the Cardinals were days away from opening spring football. Just as the Cardinals will have a new coach, they will have a first-time starter at quarterback.
Picked to finish last in the preseason Southland Conference poll, Lamar did place two players on the preseason all-conference team in defensive back Michael Lawson and kicker Bailey Giffen, both on the first team.
One of two first-year head coaches in the Southland (joining McNeese’s Frank Wilson), Morgan arrived in Beaumont from San Diego State, where he coached quarterbacks. Morgan replaced Mike Schultz, who was fired after last season’s 4-8 record, just a year removed from leading Lamar to its first FCS playoff appearance.
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Football 2020: TSU, other area schools have 2021 vision - Houston Chronicle
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